chapotraphouse

A guy I work with, who is a computer / math genius who can almost always explain how things work to the most minute detail possible, told me today that he hung out with a friend over the weekend who is "neither left nor right" on the political spectrum.

I asked him what he meant by that. He said "Well she's not left or right. She was one of the originators of the Occupy Wallstreet movement and she cares only about the disparity of the wealthy versus the poor."

I said "oh, you mean she's a leftist then" and he got upset because I didn't hear him tell me she wasn't a Democrat or a Republican. I told him yes, I understand that, but those are both right-wing parties, so she's more of a leftist than that. Good for her.

He looked shocked for a few seconds until it sank in and then he said "Oh, well yeah, if you want to put it that way, sure, but she's not really left or right though."

So I told him "that's not how it works though, just because the two establishment parties aren't leftist doesn't mean leftism isn't a thing, it very much is, especially in other countries." and it was like a light bulb turned on over his head.

Pretty much like he'd never considered there was something outside of Democrat vs Republican before.

It never ceases to amaze me that the technically smart people in my life have never considered there is anything beyond America and its particularly shitty politics.